Roy Glenn - In A Cold Sweat

“I know it’s not. I’m just askin’,” Kirk said.

He started to say something else, probably to justify why I should talk to him, but I cut him off. “No, Kirk, you're a cop askin’ questions. In my experience, that’s never a good thing.”

“Why don’t you tell me anyway.”

“You already know as much, if not more, than I know, or you wouldn’t be sittin’ here.” I laughed a little. “Like you would show up here unprepared. Not happenin’.”

“Okay. I know what Nick told the uniforms, and what he will tell the detectives when ever they get around to reading Freeze’s file and realize who he is.”

“A fact that I’m sure you’ll be glad to point out to them.”

“Nah, I’m not trying to create any more work for myself.”

“Good. ’Cause you know as well as I do that once they figure out who Freeze is, they’re not gonna care who killed him and won’t put too much effort into finding out unless you point them in a direction. So why don’t you tell me what you know.”

“That some guy just walked up and shot Freeze twice. I know nobody really saw anything except a black man running away with a gun. But you and I both know that ain’t what really happened.”

“What really happened, detective?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t there. I was just wondering if this had anything to do with The Commission?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t there. But you know I’ll find whoever did it. I promise you that. He won’t be able to hide for long.” I paused for effect. “Is this the part where you ask me to let the police handle it, detective?”

Kirk laughed and so did I. That’s twice I’ve seen him laugh. I didn’t think Kirk laughed; he’s always on the job. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of me. Makes me wonder what kind of cop I would have been. And then I came to my senses.

“No, nothing like that,” Kirk said, still laughing. “I just wanna know if I should be expecting more bodies?”

“From what I hear, there is no more Commission. They went underground screamin’ peace.”

“Don’t want any parts of you, huh?”

“I guess not. And believe me, I been lookin’,” I assured the detective.

“Yeah, I know. You and Bobby been rollin’ around callin’ these kids out since we talked about it. Heard you even got word to big Darryl about his brother.”

“Not much gets by you, detective. You been keepin’ on top of this.”

“Just trying to stay ahead of it, that’s all.”

“Like the good cop you are. And I mean that as a compliment.”

“I took it as one,” Kirk said and got ready to leave. “Oh, one more thing.”

“What’s that, detective?”

“Your boy DeFrancisco escaped while he was being transferred on Friday. With the history you have with him, I just thought you should know.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for him,” I promised, but I knew it wouldn’t be necessary. I knew that old wood house in the middle of nowhere would burn to the ground and no one would find it for months, maybe years.

Kirk stood up. “Sorry about Freeze, Black. I mean that.”

“Thank you, Detective,” I said to Kirk and he began walking away. But then he stopped.

“The Commission is done, huh?”

“That much I can assure you, Detective.”

And I could.

CeCe arranged for Stark to meet me on the upper level at The ESPN Zone in Time Square. Just the two of us. I had to give CeCe credit. She got it done for me and did it quick. Maybe there was more to her than just being fine as hell. I wondered how long it would take her to put herself in some situation when she would be alone with me. There was no question about it. I was gonna end up fuckin’ CeCe.

Like I said, it’s kind of a rule. A woman can’t set the pussy out the way she was settin’ it out and a man not get it. Especially a fine ass woman like CeCe. But for now, I was content to keep it business. She was a dangerous woman and I knew it, but that’s what makes it interesting.

I met Stark at the zone at ten o'clock that same night I met Kirk. Even though I promised to meet Stark alone, Nick insisted on coming with me. He really hasn’t left me since it happened. I knew he felt responsible, especially since I told him to watch Mylo and Freeze is dead anyway. I don’t blame him for that. This is a dangerous game we play and people die. It’s fucked up, but it is what it is.

Nick went in before I did wearing a disguise and was sittin there when Stark came in. He brought two guys with him. After they scanned the room for familiar faces, they sat down and Stark came up stairs.

I finished my drink and stood up when I saw him coming toward me. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.” I extended my hand in friendship and respect and he accepted it.

“I’m sorry about Freeze,” Stark said.

“Yeah, so am I.”

I am so tired of people beginning conversations with me with the words, I’m sorry about… First Cassandra and now Freeze. Who’s next? Bobby? I didn’t even want to think about losing my brother. “Please, have a seat.” I flagged down my waitress.

“Thank you,” Stark said and sat down.

“What are you drinkin’?”

“Jack Daniels on the rocks,” he said.

“Another Remy for you?” the waitress asked.

“If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” she said and walked away swinging her hips.

“Mylo, huh?” Stark said.

“He wanted to make it look like we were at war. After y’all were dead, cops are lookin’ at me while he takes over your business.”

“I can see that now,” Stark admitted.

“I know it was his idea for y’all to get together. Buy more product that way.”

“But his real point was you. He was always pushin’ that shit hard. That you were coming after us,” he said as the waitress brought our drinks.

“What I wanna know is how he got with y’all?” I asked when the waitress left.

“You don’t know?” Stark asked smugly.

“Know what?”

“Mylo used to buy from Birdie. I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead, but he said he was doin’ business right under Freeze’s nose,” he said like he knew he had the upper hand, and he did, ’cause I had no idea.

“Yeah, I know. He had Freeze completely fooled.” I hated to admit it, but it was true. Mylo had worked his way inside my house and had done more damage than I ever thought possible.

This wouldn’t have happened if I was runnin’ my own show. I definitely wouldn’t let that nigga run my game. If he wasn’t runnin’ the game, he would never have been able to get close to Frank.

What was Freeze thinkin’?

He was thinkin’ that Mylo proved his value and loyalty by snitchin’ on Birdie and Albert after they tried to have him and Nick killed. I understand the logic, but damn it was fucked up in this case.

“But I want you to know, and I mean this, you and I don’t have a problem. We never have. Just as long as your business doesn’t conflict with mine,” I told him.

Stark sat up a little straighter in his chair like he was finally taking me seriously again. “So, just exactly what is you sayin’?”

“All I want is peace. All that shit about me killin’ drug dealers for sport is bullshit. I don’t give a fuck how you make your money. Your hand ain’t in my pocket. So as long as you keep your hand out of my pocket, we don’t have no issue.” I didn’t think it was really necessary to threaten to kill him if he did. I think he got the point.

“All I wanna do is make money. You make yours your way, I’ll do my thing. I got nothing but respect for you, Black. Believe that.”

“Then maybe you might help me with something?”

“What's that?”

“Mylo.”

“What about him?”